Wrapping the Week with Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson: Election campaign, voting, gifted kid programme

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.

So, the winner in week... what is it, five or six? The winner in week five of the election campaign was the polls. Not the pollsters. The polls. They were far from winners. The spread, the margin of error in some, is now so absurd they're writing articles about it. Ironically, I listened to an interview on Radio NZ as they tried to explain it. Small clue: they couldn't. They couldn't explain why their polls didn't bear any real resemblance to any of the other polls. There was a debate a number of years ago that polls should be banned a few weeks out from a vote. Given the variance in methodology these days, I reckon that's probably not a bad idea. But the polls I mean are the polling booths. I have voted. I voted on day one. And, as it turns out, a lot of people did. And that is a good sign. In part, it's a sign that a lot of us knew what we were voting for and had done for a while. In essence, the campaign makes zero difference. And the irony of course, is that once you can vote, and you do, the campaign is chasing ever-diminishing returns. And that is sort of what it feels like. This is a small-policy election. With the exception of the Greens, of course. But it's a rats-and-mice election. Labour have contained themselves, so they don't look radical. ACT are the personification of contained. NZ First do a bit of Māorification stuff and talk about trains. But given the state of the books, no one in their right mind has gone out with a cheque book and gone to town, for very obvious reasons. Except the Greens, of course, who will see none of their big-ticket policies ever see the light of day. Oh, and we aren't buying the BNZ. The most controversial policy, if feedback is anything to go by, has been Labour's rent-to-buy scheme. The state gives you money in your state house, then takes taxpayers' money and puts it aside and one day calls it a deposit so you can buy it. Meanwhile, someone in the same circumstances doesn't get a house, or a deposit, or anything. Cool policy. You didn't like it. So, good week for most. No one blew it. The gang fiasco faded. And I'm still picking Opportunity not to make it. One week to go. Thank the good Lord. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Supercross is back in New Zealand for the first time since 2019. Auckland's North Harbour Stadium is hosting the second round of the AUSX Australian Championship this weekend, with 5,500 tonnes of dirt used to build the track. After winning both the American Supercross and Motocross 250 titles this year, Kiwi motocross star Cole Davies is competing in this weekend's event. He told Mike Hosking he's stoked his hard work has paid off this year. Davies says he's achieving the goals and dreams he's had since he was a little kid. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are hopes a new approach to gifted education will help students reach their full potential. The Ministry of Education's rolling out a new national programme from January, aiming to better support their curriculum and social-emotional needs. A review of past support found approaches were inconsistent across the country. Gifted Education Researcher at Massey University, Professor Tracy Riley told Mike Hosking they're not yet sure what the ministry is planning on doing under the programme, but generally they try to enrich the curriculum and match it to where the kids are at. She says a lot of gifted kids spend a lot of time waiting – waiting for others to catch up, waiting for the next thing to happen. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 30th of October, Sir John Key gives his thoughts on the second to last week of the election campaign. Kiwi motocross champ Cole Davies is excited to compete competitively in NZ for the first time since 2019. And Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson talk the campaign and gifted kids as they Wrap the Week, before Mike starts telling slanderous lies about his producer! Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.